SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 802

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 14, 1996

      The Senate Transportation Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 802.

      This bill would appropriate $7 million to the Department of Transportation for grants to counties and municipalities for extraordinary winter snow operations. Of the $7 million, $6 million would be for grants to municipalities and $1 million for grants to counties. The grants would be allocated based on a formula developed by the Commissioner of Transportation which gives equal consideration to population, local jurisdiction road mileage and winter weather conditions.

      Due to the severity and frequency of winter storms beginning in December of 1995 and the record-breaking quantity of snow which covered the State in the Blizzard of January '96, most counties and municipalities have expended more than the entire amount allocated in their budget for winter snow operations with several months of winter yet to come. This bill would help ease the burden on localities by providing grants to cover a portion of these extraordinary expenses.